Edging for trim panels



Dec. 6, 1932. is. c. PLACE EDG'ING FOR TRIM PANELS Filed Jan. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gran/"kw- Dec. 6, 1932. B. 0. PLACE EDGING FOR TRIM PANELS Filed Jan. 23. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zlwuentoz 1 laQ\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\h \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\i A7022 6. Piece;

Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BION C. PLACE, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T GEORGE E.

GAGNIER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN EDG-ING FOR TRIM PANIES Application filed January 23, 1929. Serial No. 334,548.

This invention relates to a binding for finishing panels particularly intended for the interior of closed or other automoblle bodies and to an arrangement whereby said binding may be used for attaching such panels to the supporting structure. The invention of this application is an improvement on the invention shown in my co-pending application, Ser. N 0. 294,124, filed July 20, 1928.

It is desirable to secure panels of the character just stated by means of a spring fastener that can be applied by simple insertion accompanied \by pressure moving the fastener into the opening designed to receive 1t. It is also desirable in some cases, that the panel itself be unperforated at least in that portion thereof that is exposed to the View of the observer of the (panel when it is in its operative position, an that the spring fasteners be applied to the panel without perforation thereof. This invention aims to provide a panel construction that includes a metal binder for the edges thereof, which binder not only serves to stiffen the panel and to enhance its appearance, if the body thereof is uncovered as is customary in some forms of construction, but that also serves as a means for attaching the fasteners to the panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide animproved. binding for finish panels, in the form of a metal reinforcement for its edges in which the metal reinforcement is used as a means to hold suitable fasteners in assembled relation thereto with the heads of the fasteners abutting against the inner surface of that portion of the binder that is disposed immediately adjacent the normally unexposed surface of the body of the panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ornamental panel consisting of a body of fibrous or similar material, provided with a metal binder for the edges in the form of a channel in cross section designed to receive said edges and that includes a portion, normally arranged to the rear of the body, rovided with openings whereby detachable asteners may be conveniently assembled from the rear of said panel so that the perforation of the body thereof is unnecessar A still further object of the invention is to provide a panel construction in which the body thereof is made of fibrous material reinforced at its edges by a metal binder and in which said binder is utilized as a means for holding a coverin material wrapped around said reinforced brous body in assembled relation thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a binding for the body of a covered finish panel in which the binding is utilized both as a means to hold the cover in assembled relation with respect to the body and as a means for readily securing and holding detachable headed spring fasteners assembled with respect to the panel in such osition that the operative portion of the astener may readily be applied to thesupporting structure.

Further objects of the invention will appear as a description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved reinforced trim panel constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sec- 30 tional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the rear of the improved panel illustrated on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view of 85, a preferred form of spring fastener to be used in securing the panel in position, the fastener being viewed looking along the shank thereof toward the head Figure 5 is a front view of a modified form of trlim panel showing a covered reinforced pane Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 66 of Figure 5. I c

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front view of the panel shown in Figure 5, portions of the outer cover being removed to expose the underlying construction, 7

Figure 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the panel shown in Figure 7 a portion of the covering that is normally wrapped around the edge thereof being removed.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the fibrous body of a trim panel. In Figure 1 of the drawings, a panel to be used to finish the interior of an automobile door is disclosed, but it should be understood that the invention about to be described may be applied to a trim panel of any desired outline and for any other purpose. The body 10 of the panel is constructed of fibre board, or of metal reinforced fibre board, or of any other suitable material. In order to enhance the appearance of the panel when the body is applied without a covering and itself constitutes the panel, said panel may be embossed or corrugated as indicated by the numeral 11 in Figures 1 and 3 or the entire surface may be embossed or grained to give the panel the ornamental appearance desired. The appearance of the panel may be further enhanced by applying thereto a metal edging or binder indicated as a whole by the numeral 12. At the same time said edging or binder serves to stiffen the panel and by this invention it is proposed to also utilize said edging or binder as a means to secure and hold headed fasteners by which the panel is secured to the supporting structure in assembled relation with respect to the body 10. To this end the edging 12, which preferably is constructed of sheet metal such as brass, for example, is bent in the form of a channel 13, the edges of the body 10 of the panel being disposed in said channel. The metal edging or binder has a relatively short flange 14 overlying the front of the panel and a relatively long flange 15 disposed adjacent the rear of the body 10. Said edging may be applied to the fibrous body in any suitable way, as by causing the flanges 14 and 15 to be pressed toward each other with the edge of the body between them or said edging may be crimped or bent in any way in order that it will be firmly anchored with respect to the body. If desired, portions of the metal binder may be pressed into the fibrous body so as to bite into said body.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flange 15 of the edging, that is disposed at the rear of the body, is offset as shown at 16 to provide a space 17 between the inner surface of said flange and the inner surface of the body 10. The offset portion of the flange 15 is provided at intervals with slots 18 each including a narrow portion 19 and an enlarged portion 20 into which the narrow portion 19 opens. This slot is provided to permit the ready attachment and interlocking of a headed spring fastener with this portion of the edging.

The reinforced panel just described may be secured to its supporting structure by any suitable headed fastener. A preferred form of fastener is illustrated in the drawings and comprises a one-piece spring wire fastener in which the mid portion 21 is bent into the form of a loop constituting the head of the fastener. The ends of the wire are turned inward in the plane of, and toward the center of the loop as shown at 22 (Fig. 4) and are then turned at right angles to the plane of the head. Parts of the last named portions are arranged divergently in said plane as shown at 23 (Fig. 2). The extreme ends of the wire are then bent convergently as shown at 24, the tips of the wire being brought immediately adjacent to facilitate the entry of the ends of the fastener into suitable openings provided in the supporting structure. The fastener just described is covered in a Patent #1,679,266 ranted to Bion C. Place on July 31, 1928, an reference may be had to said patent for a more detailed description thereof.

A fragment of an automobile door to which the panel just described may be secured, is illustrated in section in Fig. 2, and indicated by the numeral 25. Said door may include an inner supporting plate or similar structure 26 provided with openings 27 at intervals arranged to receive the holding portions of the spring fasteners secured to the metal reinforcement of the panel.

In the operation of this form of the invention, the flange 15 of the metal binder is provided with a series of openings 18 disposed at intervals along the length thereof. The edging or binder is then applied to the corrugated or embossed panel around all of its exposed edges serving to reinforce and stiffen the same. Inasmuch as the fasteners are preferably not assembled with respect to the panel until after the metal edging has been applied, it is apparent that in large scale manufacturing operations the application of said edging may be accomplished expeditiously and the panels thus reinforced may be stacked without interference from protruding fasteners. When it is desired to apply a panel to the interior of a supporting structure, such as an automobile door, each of the slots 18 in the flange 16 is utilized to insert and hold a fastener in assembled relation thereto. In order to assemble the fasteners the head 21 of each is disposed in the space 17 and the converging arms 24 are brought into a plane that is parallel to the length of the narrow portion 19 of said slot. The fastener is then moved along the slot until the portion thereof that projects away from the head is brought into the enlarged portion 20 of said slot. The fastener then is interlocked with respect to the edging by turning it through an angle of 90 so that the plane containing theconverging arms 24 is disposed at right angles to the length of the narrow portion 19 of the slot 18.

- Having applied a fastener to each of the I slots 18 of said panel the panel is then applied to its supporting structure by simply bringing the protruding portions of the fasteners into registry with suitable openings provided in the supporting structure and applying a pressure to the panel causing said protruding portions to enter said openings. As the pressure is applied to cause said portions to enter the openings the converging portions 24 of each of the fasteners engage the sides of the opening, which are made smaller than the larger dimension of the shank of the fastener measured transversely thereof, and said portions are caused to approach each other to permit the shank of the fastener toenter the openings provided thereforu As the movement of the panel toward its final position is continued the portions 24 of the fastener are again permitted to spring apart and the diverging portions 23 of the shank of the fastener spring apart and firmly engage the edges of the openings, thus serving to hold the panel in assembled relation. It will be observed that the body of the panel is entirely unperforated and that if it should become necessary to subsequently remove the panel this may be accomplished by prying the flange 15 of the edging away from its supporting structure. A new or the same panel maybe then applied with great facility. As the fasteners are supported in sheet metal it is apparent that no strain tending to disrupt the fibre body is set.

up either in applying or removing a panel, or durin its use in service.

In t 1e form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 another type of trim panel is illustrated. These views show a construction in which the reinforced fibrous body of the panel is provided with an outer covering of suitable cloth or fabric, such as plush, mohair, velvet, ,etc. The metal edging, 13 is applied to the edge of the fibrous body 10 in the manner above described. However, as hereinafter pointed out, it is unnecessary to offset the flange 15 of the edging, but said flange is disposed against the inner surface of the body 10 so that when the panel is applied it will lie snugly against its supporting structure. The flange 15 of the panel is preferably provided at spaced intervals with slots 18 similar to those above described and functioning in the vsame manner,but it will be understood is in its applied position. The fastenerscan be inserted in the metalbinder through per forations 28 in the panel in which event -(:ircular or oval openings in flange 15 would suffice. This arrangement, however, requires the in sertion of the fastener before application of the cover about to be described. I

In this" form of the invention the flange 15 of edging 13 serves the additional function of holding the fabric covering in assembled relation to the body of the panel. This is accomplished, preferably, by striking V-shaped or similar prongs 29 from any portion of said flange. Said prongs are bent away from the panel and project outwardly in position to bite into the fabric material 30 that is applied to the front face of the panel and has its edges carried over the edges of the panel in position to be held by said prongs. If desired, suitable wadding 31 maybe provided between the body 10 of the panel and the fabric cover 30 therefor.

In the operation of this form of the invention the body of the panel is provided with the metal edging of binder as above described. The fabric covering 30 and the wadding 31, if such is used, are then preferably applied to the front or exposed face of the panel and the edges ofsaid fabric covering are wrapped around the edges of the body and brought into engagement with the prongs 29 projecting away from the flange 15 of the edging.

The fasteners may then be applied to the panels in the manner above described and a the covered panel may be applied to the supporting structure by causing the projecting portions of the fastener to enter suitable openings in the supporting structure in the manner above described, referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It will be observed that in this form of the invention the openings 28 are covered by the fabric 30, or by the fabric 30 and the wadding 31, so that in effect, the panel considered as a whole is imperforate and presents a pleasin appearance. The metal edging 13 for the %bre or similar body serves to prevent the warping of such body while at the same time it provides a very satisfactory means to which the fasteners may be assembled. In addition, the prongs 29 struck from said edging, provides a convenient means to attach the fabric to the panel to dispense with laborious sewing or similar operations heretofore employed in securing a fabric cover to a fibrous panel body. After the panel is applied to its supportlng structure the fasten hold it snugly against said supporting structure. The edge of the fabric is prevented from being released from the prongs 29 by virtue of the fact that the edges of the fabric are clamped between the body 10 and the supporting structure by the fasteners as just described.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

hat I claim as my invention is z 1. A finish panel comprising a body of fibrous or similar material, a metal binder for the edges of said panel, said binder being provided with a portion overlying the back of said panel and having a plurality of openings designed to receive and hold separable headed fasteners inserted in said portion in assembled relation thereto with the heads of said fasteners disposed against the face of said portion that is immediately adjacent the rear of said panel, and openings in said body and opposite said first named openings to receive the heads of said fasteners so that said face of the binder may contact with the rear of said panel and so that the thickness of the head of fastener occupies the space provided by the opening made in the panel.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the openings in said portion of the binder consist in slots extending inwardly from an edge of said binder to permit said fasteners to be inserted from said edge and brought to a position in which they are held interlocked with respect to said binder.

3. "A finish panel including a fibrous or similar body provided with perforations disposed adjacent the edges thereof, and a metal binder applied to the edges of said body with portions thereof extending across said perforations, said binder being provided with openings opposite said perforations and arranged to permit separable headed fasteners to be applied to said portions from the rear of said body with the heads of the fasteners disposed in said perforations.

4. A finish panel for an automobile body or similar purpose, comprising a fibrous or simi lar body, a sheet metal reinforcing binder secured around the edges of said body and having a portion extending over and lapping a part of the rear of said body, said binder being provided in said portion with prongs struck therefrom at a multiplicity of spaced points around the periphery of the panel to penetrate and hold fabric material, and fabric material covering the front face of said body and extending around said binder to the rear of said body and held in position with respect to said panel by said prongs, and openings in said portion formed to receive headed spring fasteners after the application of said fabric.

5. A finish panel for an automobile body or similar purpose comprising a fibrous or similar body, a'sheet metal reinforcing binding secured around the edges of said body and having a portion extending over and lapping a part of the rear of said body, said binder being provided in said portion with prongs struck therefrom at a multiplicity of spaced points around the periphery of the panel to penetrate and hold fabric material, and fabric material covering the front face of said body and extending around said binder to the rear of said body and held in position with respect to said panel by said prongs, said binder being provided with openings in the form of open-ended slots, each having a narrow width at the open end and a greater width remote from said end, to receive separable headed spring fasteners applied from the rear face of the panel after said fabric material has been applied to the front face thereof.

6. A finish panel for an automobile body or similar purpose, comprising a body of fibrous or similar material, a sheet metal reinforcement applied to and stiffening the edges of said body, and a fabric for said body covering one face thereof and lapping said reinforced edges, "said reinforcement projecting beyond the fabric and being provided with openings extending inwardly from said uncovered edge of the reinforcementto permit the attachment of fasteners to said panel after the fabric has been applied to the front face thereof and lapped around said reinforced edges, and meansforming an integral part of said reinforcement for attaching said fabric to said panel.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 in which said last named means consists of projections in the form of triangular prongs struck from the metal thereof and bent to penetrate the fabric and to thereby hold the edges thereof when wrapped around the edges of the panel.

BIO'N C. PLACE. 

